Farrier Jim Santore heats up a horseshoe in an open forge to make it more pliable for hammering and shaping on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Van Lennep Riding Center in Greenfield, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Few products are as deeply imbedded in Capital Region history as the horseshoe: It was in Troy, in 1835, that Henry Burden invented the mass production of horseshoes. But the fitting of a shoe to an individual horse hoof, a practice dating to perhaps the sixth century, remains a skill passed from one generation of craftsman to the next. It is the kind of work celebrated by Times Union photographers in this ongoing series.

Santore, 60, reaches for his cane and hobbles over to the blazing forge. He plunges the shoe deep into the fiery pit, pokes at the coals and soon pulls out the red-hot shoe. He deftly hammers out the needed modifications on an anvil and returns to his patient customer. It's a perfect fit, and Santore nails it into place.

He never intended to become a farrier. It just happened. Horse-crazy from an early age, Santore remembers always being around the animals. He started riding as a kid, and worked as a groom for show horses. In his 20s, Santore tried his luck racing quarter horses on the Midwest circuit. He loved the thrill of the ride, but not the battle of keeping off the weight. So he shifted gears to assisting trainers and exercising their charges. On weekends, Santore started shoeing horses. "It ended up being a long stretch," he said.

He understands what horses do for a living, especially at a schooling facility like the Skidmore College barn. The donated show horses are older and have physical issues. Horses, like people, don't want to move if they have pain in their legs and feet. "It's not just sticking shoes on a horse," he said. "It's podiatry." A well-set hoof will land flat and pain-free on the ground.

Santore remains one of the last farriers to use the hot-shoe method. The technique is considered dated by many, but he believes the technique is more efficient and creates a better fit. Younger farriers take advantage of today's pre-made commercial shoes, which are closer to the actual shape of hooves. They can make modifications without a forge.

Thirtysome years of twisting, turning and wrangling horses have taken their toll. Santore thought his career was over following back surgery in July 2011, but his passion for horses, and his loyal clients, brought him back to the forge. "I like the satisfaction of making a difference," he said. "I like the people I work with. And the horses, of course."